I Stole the Male Lead's White Moonlight [Transmigration] - Chapter 53.1

Zhu Xinya said calmly, “Xiaoxiao, don’t rush. Tell me why the female lead role has been given back to Ni Xin.”

Having lost the lead role she had secured, Zhu Xinya was quite frustrated. Ling Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and said, “I had already finalized the contract details with the ‘Asking the General’ crew yesterday and was just waiting to take you to sign it today. But this morning at six, I got a call from Lili. She said the investors think you’re a newcomer and not as well-known as Ni Xin, so you wouldn’t be able to draw audiences. They insisted on having Ni Xin play the female lead, or they would withdraw their funding. Feng Ruohong took the opportunity to persuade Tang Yanyan, repeatedly assuring her of his innocence with Ni Xin, and Tang Yanyan has already softened her stance. Lili told me this privately, the crew hasn’t officially contacted me yet, but I expect to receive a call soon.”

Zhu Xinya replied, “There’s nothing we can do about it. The female lead role originally belonged to Ni Xin anyway. To be honest, I was the one who took it from her. Since it was never truly mine to begin with, there’s no use getting too upset over losing it. Xiaoxiao, when the crew contacts you later, remember to ask if I can still play the seventh female supporting role.”

Ling Xiaoxiao said indignantly, “Miss, I still feel it’s such a pity. Would you consider asking Chairman Zhu to invest.”

Zhu Xinya couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not going to waste money like that. Award-seeking films like this usually end up losing money. My family’s money was earned through my father’s hard work. I can’t just squander it to promote myself for a role. That’s not my style.”

After hanging up, Zhu Xinya looked up and saw Que Hanfu standing at the door. Delighted, she exclaimed, “Sister! I thought you had already left for work!”

Que Hanfu had overheard her entire conversation with Ling Xiaoxiao. Seeing the genuine joy on Zhu Xinya’s face, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Zhu Xinya immediately scooted closer and wrapped her arms around Que Hanfu’s waist.

“Are you really giving up on the female lead role?” Que Hanfu asked softly, looking down at her.

Zhu Xinya tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling. “It’s not that I don’t want it, it’s just not possible right now. But it’s okay. One day, I’ll become a female lead. After all, I’m a future film queen!”

Que Hanfu gently stroked her hair and whispered, “Yaya, I could!”

Zhu Xinya reached up and covered her mouth. “Sister, no, you can’t.”

“You heard me, right? I meant what I said about not wanting to waste money. My father’s money shouldn’t be wasted, and yours definitely shouldn’t be either.” Zhu Xinya leaned up and kissed Que Hanfu’s delicate jawline. “With that kind of money, wouldn’t it be better to buy a bunch of pretty dresses and dress up for you?”

“Actually, with proper promotion, it might not necessarily lose money,” Que Hanfu said, gently pulling Zhu Xinya’s hand away from her mouth and holding it.

She remembered how happy Zhu Xinya had been last night when she told her about landing the female lead role. She didn’t want to see her disappointed.

Zhu Xinya used her other hand to cover Que Hanfu’s mouth again, widening her eyes. “No investing! I won’t allow it. With such a huge amount of capital, not making a profit is the same as losing money. Let’s talk about something else. Nod if you agree, or I won’t let go.”

Looking at Zhu Xinya’s fierce expression, Que Hanfu’s lips curved into a smile, and she nodded. Instantly, Zhu Xinya’s face brightened, and she withdrew her hand, asking cheerfully, “Sister, does that mean you don’t have to go to work today?”

“I made breakfast for you. I’ll leave after you finish eating.”

Zhu Xinya sat up, her cheeks flushed as she asked, “Sister, how did you like the red wine from last night? Would you like to have some more?”

Que Hanfu remained silent.

A faint blush tinged the corners of Que Hanfu’s eyes, her usually cool gaze now hazy with a rosy mist. Her red lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Zhu Xinya grinned like a mischievous kitten, leaning close to Que Hanfu’s ear and whispering, “I’m sure you liked it. I’ll give you more in the future.”

Que Hanfu abruptly stood up and walked straight to the door. Without looking back, she said to Zhu Xinya, “Come out for breakfast. I’ll be waiting for you in the dining room.”

After Que Hanfu left, Zhu Xinya hugged the blanket and lay back down, savoring the memory of Que Hanfu’s earlier expression for a moment before finally getting up, satisfied, to wash up and change.

During breakfast, Zhu Xinya refrained from teasing Que Hanfu again. After they finished their meal, Que Hanfu left for work, and Zhu Xinya saw her off at the door. Que Hanfu planted a light kiss on her forehead and said, “Wait for me to come back this afternoon. I’ll cook for you. Let me know what you’d like to eat via WeChat.”

After Que Hanfu left, Zhu Xinya was alone at home.

Feeling a bit bored, she decided to visit her family home. However, Zhu Yin was at work, and Fang Fang had gone shopping with her friends. With no one home, Zhu Xinya headed to Yunyun Film Studio instead. After all, she had work to do, and being at the company was better than staying home alone.

Upon arriving at the company, Zhu Xinya went to Ling Xiaoxiao’s office and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Ling Xiaoxiao’s voice sounded noticeably displeased.

Zhu Xinya pushed the door open and entered. Ling Xiaoxiao had just put down her phone and looked up to see Zhu Xinya. She quickly stood up and asked, “Yaya, what brings you here? I was just about to call you.”

Ling Xiaoxiao followed Zhu Xinya to the sofa and sat down. Zhu Xinya asked, “Did the Asking the General production team call? What did they say?”

Ling Xiaoxiao’s face darkened. “Not only did they replace the female lead with Ni Xin, but the seventh female role was also given to an actress recommended by Ni Xin from her own studio.”

Zhu Xinya was a little upset to learn she couldn’t even secure the seventh female role. “What’s wrong with this production team? They’re so unreliable.”

“Well, both the investors and Feng Ruohong prefer Ni Xin. If she wants to bring in an actress for the seventh female role, no one will object,” Ling Xiaoxiao said with a frown. “Don’t worry, Yaya. Your variety show and TV drama are about to air. Once you gain some popularity, I’ll find you better scripts.”

Zhu Xinya replied, “Xiaoxiao, you’ve worked hard. Let me treat you to lunch today. We’ll turn our frustration into appetite.”

“What hard work? You’re the one who worked hard, preparing so diligently for so long, only to end up like this.”

Ling Xiaoxiao felt like a failure as a manager.

Zhu Xinya said, “A loss may turn out to be a gain. Who knows? Maybe something good will come out of this. No matter what, we have to keep moving forward, right?”

Zhu Xinya’s encouragement only made Ling Xiaoxiao feel more guilty. That evening, Ling Xiaoxiao stayed late at the office, sifting through a pile of scripts the company had purchased to find a suitable project for production.

Yunyun Film Studio also had its own film investment projects, though they were few. Still, it was possible to invest in and produce a successful, well-received film.

While focusing on her work, Ling Xiaoxiao didn’t forget to keep an eye on online news.

On the same day the production team called to inform them about the role changes, the official Weibo account of Asking the General announced the lead actors and actresses. The news that Ni Xin would play an 18-year-old girl immediately became a trending topic.

Most people had a favorable impression of Ni Xin, believing that with her acting skills, she could perfectly portray the role of an eighteen-year-old girl.

A small minority, however, began mocking the casting choices on the official Weibo account of “Asking the General,” claiming that the crew had made a mistake by casting a thirty-six-year-old woman full of feminine charm to play an eighteen-year-old girl. They argued that no matter how well the actress maintained her appearance, the wrinkles around her eyes couldn’t be hidden when she smiled, and the post-production team would likely have to spend a fortune on editing.

While reading the comments, Ling Xiaoxiao joined in with the netizens’ complaints. “Our Yaya is so much more suitable! Her face is full of collagen, and her acting skills have been certified by Feng Ruohong. She’s absolutely qualified to be the female lead. Hmph, it’s just that the investors lack vision and can’t see Yaya’s value! They totally deserve the mockery.”

A week later, “Dreams of the Square Garden,” starring Zhu Xinya and Que Hanfu, began airing. However, due to Que Hanfu’s overwhelmingly stunning looks, Zhu Xinya’s brilliance was somewhat overshadowed. The show gained some attention, but not as much as expected.

Ling Xiaoxiao noticed Que Hanfu’s portrayal of the Bright Saintess and couldn’t resist making a few sarcastic remarks, saying that her popularity was solely due to her looks, unlike their young lady, who had both beauty and talent and was destined to become a film queen someday!

After venting, Ling Xiaoxiao casually opened Weibo to look up information about Que Hanfu. What she found left her stunned.

She had been wrong. The goddess wasn’t just a pretty face she had brains too. She was a genius!

The official Weibo account of “Dreams of the Square Garden” released a short behind-the-scenes clip showing Zhu Xinya and Que Hanfu spending time together even after filming ended. Although Que Hanfu appeared aloof, there was a hint of tenderness in her eyes when she was with Zhu Xinya.

After watching the clip, Ling Xiaoxiao felt a bit overwhelmed. She actually thought her young lady and Que Hanfu looked quite compatible!

“Dreams of the Square Garden” aired two episodes daily from Monday to Friday, and Zhu Xinya and Que Hanfu’s scenes wrapped up within the week. On Saturday, the variety show “Facing South Mountain,” which they both participated in, premiered. Zhu Xinya’s sassy, teasing style of praise had viewers laughing uncontrollably. Notably, all of Fan Chunyi’s scenes had been cut from the show.

[Oh my god, how did I only just realize how adorable Yaya is? I want her to tease me too.]

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